KontansPlace

Sunshine on my shoulders…

…it actually feels like the world. Maybe I just need to take the camera, Tchaik, and the girls and go take pictures. Maybe that will improve my outlook. Right now I am about as far from motivated as possible. I went to get groceries yesterday and had to just leave. Too many people with too little control over their running, screaming children. My own children aren’t being too difficult, just constant. 26 days of school remaining. I know that it is always like this, but it doesn’t make it any easier. This group is the most challenged academically. I do prefer academic challenged to behavior problems. The major issue is that they not only can’t grasp the academic concepts, they have no desire to. It isn’t like it is difficult. It’s history. You listen. You read. You think…and there is the problem. Thinking requires effort and this is the laziest group of students I have ever taught. I rarely give homework, but if I ever do I guarantee that 80% will not do it. I had better results with the major grade homework. I gave a take home essay test this past week. Eighteen out of 95 students did not do it. Many who did complete the test did only the minimum. Seventy points possible, thirty (forty for “advanced” group) required. There were more in the “advanced” group, the students who are supposed to have greater ability and care more, who didn’t complete their required points than in my regular classes. The lack of effort is astounding.

Juggling the teaching of lazy students, planning the upcoming dance, the job hunt, the needs of my own children, the cluttered house, and life in general is more than I want to face right now. We do what we have to do and that is what I will do. I have an interview Wednesday and that is a bright spot. It means progress, hope. I can not remain at a school where I do not have a classroom and have to float. I just can’t. I don’t know what I will do next year, but I cannot float again. There is neither stability nor organization when you do not have a room to call your own. It hinders your ability to teach with maximum effectiveness.

Now…therapy session over. It is a beautiful sunny day. I am going to take my own advice and enjoy part of it.

Ready for vacation

I had such a great outlook last week. Ahhh, just one more week and then I can enjoy spring break. Yes, it will be filled with cleaning, packing, pulling the spring clothes and storing the winter, but it will be student free! Then I realized. Spring break was not one, but two weeks away. Sadness. I am now only one week away and will have to pray myself through next week.

Students can be so frustrating. At the beginning of the year I expressed amazement at how likable this group was. I really do like most of them. So why the frustration? I don’t know how to teach the apathetic student. These guys see no benefit to learning history, or note-taking and study skills. They have NO desire. The ability level is so low and the motivation level is lower. I just flat out do not know what else to do.

Searching the ‘net tonight and ran across this website explaining how to deal with stress. Great tips and an ease of writing that keeps you reading. Now…I’m off to bed to listen to my calming music and relax from head to toe.

Saturday Saying #4

We’re all in this together
High School Musical

Every six months or so I get restless. Djembe has learned to humor me during these times. He will rearrange the furniture or help me paint. He even broke his arm because of me. (Curious? Read about it here and the miserable ER visit here.) OK, not because of me…the TV mounting was not ALL my idea. Anyway, he is Mr. Wonderful when it comes to dealing with my latest whim.

Today I had the grand idea to switch the music room and the living room. The catalyst for this decision was the fact that the living room wall is shared with the shower wall in the bathroom. If someone is taking a shower it is all you can hear, and if someone wishes to enjoy a relaxing bath all they can hear is the TV. The other reason, I like the fireplace and want it to get the respect that it deserves instead of sharing the glory with Jem’s awesome TV. I was very surprised when Jem agreed that it was a good idea. Despite the hours that the transition required I must say it was not just a good idea, it was great. The living room will now close off. It is a cozy space, very relaxing. The den is just as relaxing. It needs one more chair, but that is not essential to enjoy the serenity of a relaxing workspace and fireplace. (I am such a pyro.) A couch and my comfy chair are sufficient for now. The PC is in here as well. I must say, it works. I’m just thankful that I have someone willing to appease me. I am still going to petition for his drum stuff to accent the office den. I really liked having a music room.

Everyone worked together today. There were tense times when the girls insisted on being under foot. They did their part though. They cleaned their rooms and worked on getting their clean clothes folded and put away. I like when we are working together. These days it is essential.

Hope your weekend is grand.

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Relaxing to the sounds of: Steven Curtis Chapman - Live Out Loud
via FoxyTunes

Manic Monday #1

Yes, this is another meme to keep me posting. Yeah, yeah…I know what I posted about routine on my Saturday saying. I found Manic Monday, shockingly enough, at the Manic Monday blog site when I was looking for an image for my own manic Monday image. This was before I knew there was a meme. Soooo… will it become routine? Don’t know, but it gives me something to type about when my brain feels like mush.

So here are the questions:
Which sex do you think has it easier in our culture? Have you ever wished you were the opposite sex?
Men. No doubt. Not that I think our culture hasn’t come a long way in the whole equality of the sexes, but gender roles are still present. Not that we actually observe all gender roles either. Let’s face it, there are some men who are better at the cooking and such. For instance, Jem cooks some amazing meals. He made lasagna tonight and it was awesome. I think that a lot of the difficulty that women face with regard to ease in culture is self imposed. Those who have a career outside of the home also feel the desire to meet all the gender specific roles inside the home. Now some of us are able to get over that hurdle. I’m also going to play the uterus card here. Guys, get back to me after you’ve had a baby.

When I was little I was a tom-boy and so wished I could be a boy so that they would let me play all their cool games. Finally, they let me play anyway and I beat them. *sigh* It was then cool to be a powerful girl.

What books from your childhood would you like to share with your children?
Actually pass on to them or just have them read? I had a Mother Goose book that was part of a children’s encyclopedia set. I would love to have that to give to them. My favorite series was The Boxcar Children. In the third grade I fell in love with that series. I also enjoyed Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden mysteries. I had several very old copies of Nancy Drew books. The covers were worn, the pages were brown and brittle. It would be great to have those on my shelf today.

What is one talent or skill you don’t possess but always wanted?
To play the piano. Gymnastics would be cool too.

Stopping by for Manic Monday? Leave a comment and comment luv should link your last post. Love Mr. Linky, but that is just too much like work.

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Relaxing to the sounds of: Aerosmith - I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing
via FoxyTunes

Goals for the week

1- Prepare Latin American revolutions lesson and PPT.
2- Again, have all grades taken this week entered by Friday.
3- Have girls create their video blog entry to post to the family site.
4- Make it to the gym 3x this week.
5- Spend at least one evening with Djembe not worrying about anything. Jem, clear your schedule and let me know what works.

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Relaxing to the sounds of: John Mayer - Neon
via FoxyTunes

Friday Five #1

Borrowed from Tense Teacher.

I am determined to get through Blog 365 and have made it 10 days! YES only 355 to go. (We get Feb 29th off.) You guys know that some days you just don’t feel like posting or you don’t have much to say. Blog things, memes, and other gimmicks help keep you regular…errr, posting regularly. So today (and other Friday’s I am sure) you will find a 5things list.

5 Things accomplished this week.

1. One of my goals for this week was to get the kids (the birthlings) back into their routine. In bed, reading, by 8:00 and lights out at 8:30. We didn’t make the goal every night, but we made steps in the right direction.

2. Another goal was to get any grades issued this week logged into the system by leaving time Friday. Woohoo, go me. I managed to enter both grades for general and several grades for advanced. This is truly an accomplishment for me.

3. Accomplishment three is about teaching. I worked my tush off this week to make the ‘08 start a good one. My lessons were done, although not entered because the system would not let me in during the early part of the week. Gotta love technology. Not only were the lessons done, but I didn’t take the easy road. I searched for ways to make the French Revolution interesting and relevant to them. They were attentive and participatory. That is tons more than I can say for December. Honestly, what I have to say for December wouldn’t make it past your work word filters.

4. I didn’t hurt anyone and managed to make it up, out, and on time everyday. Thank you Djembe ~*~

5. On the Blog 365 front…I posted each day. Congrats to other 365′rs! I have a list on the side. If you are visiting 365′r leave a comment and I’ll add you to the list and I commit to comment! Happy blogging, happy weekend.

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Relaxing to the sounds of: Bob James - Maputo
via FoxyTunes

Happy New Year!!! ~2008~

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.”
Benjamin Franklin

It’s that time of year when resolutions are made and many have high hopes for the year ahead. Nothing wrong with that. I am going to say look to the year behind. What were the ups? What were the downs? What did you do right? What did you do wrong? Then evaluate the changes you wish for your life.

We made several life changing decisions last year. We sold a house, moved to another state…we started on a new trail and took the road less traveled.

Looking back-

January:
I missed New Years with Djembe. I was flying home from DC and spent several hours in Charlotte and a few more in Atlanta. Not fun. The house was painted and ready to go on the market. I started developing a site to use for advertising. I also started my full force campaign to obtain a position in the new city. It was also a goal to venture into the world of the college classroom. Submitting my resignation was a lot more difficult than I expected it to be.

February:
I lost a close friend from high school. We were friends, we were competitors, we had a lot of fun getting on each other’s nerves. He lost his battle with cancer in early February 2007. Not much action with the house selling, but we were starting on the path to big changes.

March:
We started visiting the new city, checking out our options and introducing the girls to what would soon be their home.

April:
We had a house guest for a few days. Snoopy, an adorable and sweet natured beagle, stopped in for a few weeks. Well, she didn’t like Tiki, but that was just friendly competition. I would have loved for her to stay, but she was claimed by an old man who named her Betty. (I think it was Betty.)

School was hectic and shocking. A teacher I worked with lost her husband to suspicious circumstances, and later committed suicide. She had murdered him. Yikes. You never think something like that is going to happen.

We were in full house selling mode. We looked into realtors and went with the one who helped us find our first house.

May:
Counting the days until the end of school I went on a couple of interviews. Djembe submitted his resignation, effective at the end of the month. Showing the house occasionally, and stressing that we couldn’t control everything.

June:
Off to the beach! So much to do when we return. Several interviews, packing, and finding a place to live. We had several nibbles on the house and then two bites in one day! Djembe started working in the new city and we were living apart. It was horrible. I don’t mind my space, and I don’t mind the silence of the evening after the girls go to bed. But I don’t like to sleep alone. In fact, I hate sleeping without Djembe, the human pillow and bed warmer, beside me. When Daddy wasn’t home, the girls slept with me. They loved it, I missed Jem. We searched and searched for a place in the new city. God intervened and we found a great house, low rent, enough room, and we got to keep the dogs!

July:
Time to move. Fourth of July week was not the best time for my dogs. LOL. Stormy that week AND fireworks. The big baby, Tchaik, was a basketcase and his mommy was none to happy about it either. We closed on the house and gave up our acre with the great view and house with the wonderful garden tub. I don’t miss it. Most importantly, we weren’t going to starve! I was offered a position with the local high school.

August:
Girls start a new school. I start a new school. Djembe gets ready to start school again.

Hottest weather in a long while, 100+ for days at a time, and we lose the AC. LONG battle to get it fixed and reimbursed for the days that a hotel was required. The house was not tolerable at 90 degrees, dropping to a cool 85 at night. Moving was terribly stressful, but it was over.

September:
Settling in. I started teaching my first college class, it was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Time consuming. To make things easier I took the girls on a hiking trip or two. Nothing major, but it was fun. We took a family trip to tailgate for the first Auburn game. Lots-o-fun.

October:
Wow it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, but it seems like forever. Weather still nice we persuaded Jem to join us on our hiking excursion. As much as he “loves” the outdoors I’m sure it was a thrill. He was a good sport at least. Renaissance Faire was the highlight of the month. Seeing adults dressed in their best medieval garments was amusing for our girls. The area where we are tries to be rather artsy. They fail miserably in some areas, but they do have great festivals for art, music, and history.

November:
I didn’t think November was going to end. The month started out great with our semi-annual trip to Auburn for the homecoming game. Djembe meets up with his AU buddies and they have a grand time reminiscing. The rest of us are along for the ride. On campus for game day is truly enjoyable.

Instead of visiting family for Thanksgiving we stayed home. Djembe cooked a turkey and made wonderful pies. As much as I enjoy his cooking I believe we will journey to the fam next year. If not for Thanksgiving then for Christmas. I want the girls to experience the family holiday.

Jem also had a birthday new Thanksgiving. In fact it was the same day as the AU/AL game. Unfortunately, it was clouded by the death of my dad. I still haven’t blogged about the man I knew. I guess I’m still sorting things out and it’s just easier not to face it.

December:
Didn’t start out any better than November ended. My stepdad died early in the month. The back to back deaths were a struggle. Trying to find good in the devastation of death is difficult. I have spoken with my mother more, and that is a positive. She is still struggling.

I tried to make Christmas special for the girls. We did stay home, refer to November to see how I feel about that. Staying home at Christmas is great because you don’t have to rush through the morning routine and then rush to family, but there is something lost by not spending it with family.

We have enjoyed winter break and will continue to do so for the next week. For me, school starts Monday. This is the first time in years that I haven’t had to go back immediately after New Years. Love it.

It is now 2008. I make no resolutions, but I will strive for several things. 1) Better health, more activity. 2) A job with a classroom. 3) Time with the girls. Yes, I plan to participate in the Blog365. Yes, it will take time and dedication to blog each day. It can be done, and done without sacrificing much. I’m on the ‘net everyday anyway. Many times I hop from one site to another reading the news and latest headlines. I figure after one lap I can blog, then move on. I don’t have to make several laps. Tomorrow is another day, and I can read the news then. Just think, years ago they had to wait weeks or months for news. Now, we’re irritated if we miss the breaking story crawl! I want to embrace what is important in life, and not worry as much about the rest.

It’s A Challenge!

While visiting Tense Teacher I discovered a challenge…a marathon of sorts.

Yep…365 Days, 52 weeks, 12 months, and 1 lap around the sun! Here are, Da Rulz:

If you’ve been around you know the last month or so has been difficult. Several times I posted simply because I didn’t want to just let the blog go. A post a day and the Blog365 community looks like fun so I thought I would take advantage. It is also an attempt to visit more bloggers, expand my horizons. (Not that you guys in my blogroll aren’t great.)

If you’re feeling brave or experiencing temporary insanity, join me! If you can’t join in, at least stop by to laugh at my attempts!

Just a few more hours

and winter break will be a welcome blessing.

And in the news…Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. This article details feedback from parents and how they will handle discussions with their children. Honestly, I hadn’t given it much thought, but I guess if it comes up it will have to be addressed. I wonder if the Zoey doll will now come with pregnancy clothes, boyfriend, and eventually a newborn?

Hollywood…World…Here ya go, grab a basket, take a number it’s going to be a long trip.

blogging…just like working out at the gym

Yes, it is true. I believe there is little difference in blogging and going to the gym. Both activities serve to relax the individual who chooses to take part. Both can relieve stress and frustration. If you ever miss a day it is easy to skip another…and another…and another…and then you aren’t participating at all. In case you’re wondering I haven’t been going to the gym either. Well, wait, I take that back. I go to the gym almost every day. I go in the front door, walk past the desk…past the equipment…past the weights…and then I sign my children out and leave. At least there is a routine involved, and maybe I’ll stop walking past the equipment and use it.

No exams tomorrow. I pray that students will leave after the first exam and I won’t have to babysit a study hall. The first exam is my planning and the second is their lunch. PLEASE go home people! I’m hoping to accomplish a good bit during the non-student time.

I’m feeling sort of grinchy scrooge like. Getting into the happy ho ho ho mindset is taking effort. Maybe that isn’t bad. Christmas isn’t about happy ho ho ho. Shopping is virtually done. I really do like to buy for my kids and make it special for them. We finally picked a tree and put it up last week. I vowed that I was not going to do the lights. Yeah…so after I put the lights on the kids were persuaded to decorate. From the time I was the age of my oldest I was in charge of lights and tree. I used my allowance to buy the lights. Gran always tried to make Christmas special. She would make sure everyone had a stocking filled with fruit, nuts, and candy. I still have the stocking she made for me. By the time I was in high school she had gotten really bad sick and was in the hospital two and three times a semester. I realized just how sick she was when she had me fix the stockings for everyone. I think I fixed my Easter basket that year too. (Yes, I received an Easter basket up until I moved out. If you were in the house on Easter you had an Easter basket.)

*edit* note to self…work on the scrooge thing.